Bonjour, mon petit chou-choux! ๐ฉฐ
It's another glorious #TutuTuesday here on www.pink-tutu.com and this week, we're taking a delightful trip through time, all the way back to November 14th, 1876! ๐
Fancy a little peek into the history of our beloved tutus? Well, hold onto your bonnets, ladies, because we're about to take a thrilling trip back to Victorian England, with me, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling fashionista, Emma! ๐ฐ๏ธ
Now, this isn't my first time-travel adventure, you know! My little secret is that I travel the globe, whisking myself back in time to explore the ever-evolving history of the tutu. I have to confess, my trips are all funded by my performances โ nothing beats twirling in my pink tutu to an enraptured audience! Itโs not easy travelling through time on a ballerinaโs budget, you know! ๐ธ๐ฉฐ
Anyway, let's get back to 1876! This year, in my home county of Derbyshire, there were so many amazing things going on. It was, you see, the year of the Derby, with the famous "Derby" (the name of a racecourse, not the horses themselves, I might add!) becoming famous for its horse racing events. A fantastic reason to whip out your finest frock for a day at the races! But no mention of a tutu yet, hmm... Perhaps, some fine ladies thought it too extravagant! Or perhaps it was simply out of fashion - at the moment. I would imagine those fine ladies favoured beautiful Victorian dresses with bustles and layers upon layers of fabric - truly the essence of grand elegance. ๐
But fret not, my lovelies, for my search for tutus doesnโt stop here. 1876 also saw the birth of Marie Taglioni's son! A most remarkable name, that - even if she's not exactly the inventor of the tutu (more about that in a minute!), she most definitely pushed its popularity within the ballet world, as did the ballerinas following in her dainty shoes. Let's give a huge shout-out to those lovely ladies who danced with a delightful grace and fluidity that quite honestly demanded an elegant costume to mirror their movements! ๐คฉ
But let's rewind for a moment, shall we? It wouldn't be Tutu Tuesday without delving into a little bit of tutu history! Before the rise of Marie Taglioni, let's remember Madame Jules-Cรฉsar Prude, who first designed a shorter-length, lightweight ballet skirt, designed for The Sylphides which was produced in 1832. A truly revolutionary step away from the cumbersome, floor-length skirts that ballet dancers wore up to this point. ๐
As for the 'tu-tu' term? We need to journey back even further, right to 1825 to discover this adorable name was adopted for a ballet costume made of lightweight cotton. Just imagine, such simple materials yet holding within them the essence of beauty, of grace! You just couldn't achieve those beautiful twirls and arabesques without something so flexible! ๐ค
Well, my darlings, it's getting quite late here, and my journey back to present day is a long one! Remember, we are living in a glorious age of tutus! From those glamorous and elegant stage tutus to the charming and practical street tutus - we truly do live in the tutu age, my darlings! ๐
Now go on, put on your fanciest tutu and strut your stuff, just like our ballet icons did back in the day! But maybe leave that travelling through time to me, as I've just realised... * I left the tea kettle on! * ๐ซ
Until next time, *remember to stay pink! *
With love,
Emma x
P.S. Have I missed any tu-tu-ly fabulous facts for November 14th, 1876? Let me know in the comments below! And don't forget, we love to see pictures of YOU in your favourite tutus! Share them on Instagram and tag *#PinkTutu! *
*Until next time! *